The Stovebolt Site Forums Welcome! Welcome Centre '51 3100 - barn treasure - looking for advice

Short version of a much longer story:

Been looking for an old truck for months and across a wide geography. This 51 kind of fell in my lap close to home. Been sitting inside for 30+ years. In pretty remarkable shape. Original paint, original wood...was not pampered, but was definitely cared for and loved.

My intentions are to preserve the truck in its current condition --- and restore the mechanicals to be a fun weekend driver for my kids and me. I am pretty new to advanced design pickups --- but did have a '66 back in high school.

Looking for a tortured soul who has done this before to serve as a mentor and answer many questions both on and off the board. The kind of odd bird who actually enjoys being peppered with my stupid questions.

The truck has a great story that I will share later.
Love this site.

JW51, welcome to the Stovebolt. You can find answers to all your questions here and we understand and preach that there is no stupid questions. Just questions that you have not seen the answer to....yet.
Take some time, learn your way around the Stovebolt and you'll be amazed..... and before anyone else says it.... we like pictures when you can get some loaded up. Check out the line at the bottom left side of this page for how to do it... and if you need help ask in the IT Forum.
We are here to help and so are LOTS of bolters in your area. They will find you....if you don't find them first. Don't be bashful.

Welcome JW, yes a lot of us have done what you want to do. Just ask and there will be someone able to help you out. As Alvin mentions, there are a lot of bolters in your area, we even have our reunions in Missouri. Maybe we'll see you someday.

Leo

Step one is getting it into the shop for brakes. That will happen later today, if things thaw out. How much $ should I be prepared to pay for that work?

The truck sat for 30 years so obviously it's a complete redo on brakes. Have to get that done before I could even think about putting her in my garage. Have a steep driveway. After the brakes, we will investigate what it will take to start the engine. It is allegedly a 235 (haven't checked the stamping) that turns quite freely. Not original, of course.

Hi JW, usually best to ask specific questions in the appropriate forums. (This is the welcome centre) Are you purchasing the parts and doing it yourself? Be sure to go to your FLAPS first, they may well still carry the parts you need. You're wise to make the brakes step #1.

Leo

Your posts sound just like mine over the last few weeks. I have a eye bolt well screwed into the back wall of my garage that I use with a come-along to get projects into the garage. My first project was to get the old girl running because the seller offered to refund a third of the selling price if the engine is shot. Don't feel bad about posting pictures, I've been trying for 2 weeks and clearly suck at it. Good luck on your project.

Hiring this brake work done.

Funny you say that, I've had the exact same thought about the come-along. Two fears have kept me from trying it just yet:

1) Wouldn't have a way to stop the truck if the cable broke (hence hiring that done)

2) Afraid I might pull the stud out of the garage wall to which the eyebolt is attached.

JW, as you spend more time on this site you will realize what an AMAZING truck you have found! I would probably put new tires on it but that would be it. (aside from anything mechanical it needs)

Congratulations on a wonderful find.

Joe

mendonjo: Thanks, it is in pretty remarkable shape. Looks better in those pics than in real life, but your thoughts are mine exactly. I think it'd be a shame to restore the body (plus I'm too cheap anyway).

New tires are high on my list. Whitewalls. Would also like to find some wheels to get away from the locking ring ones. Hard to find 6 lug.

Actually 6-lug wheels are pretty common, if you don't mind running non-original ones while you're looking for period-correct wheels. Virtually all the Nissan, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and other import truck 6-lug wheels run the Chevy bolt pattern. If you can find 15" wheels for an older Toyota Land Cruiser, they'll bolt on and look almost original, and there's a huge selection of suitable-size tires available. For 16" wheels, look into 6-lug plain steel trailer wheels. Just don't tell the seller you're buying them for motor vehicle use. (None of his business in the first place, but those wheels don't have the DOT certification for motor vehicles!)
Jerry

Any harm in running 15 inch? The only aftermarket steel wheels I can find in 6 lug are some smoothies from Coker. Wouldn't look bad, but they are 15.

"New tires are high on my list. Whitewalls. Would also like to find some wheels to get away from the locking ring ones. Hard to find 6 lug."

Do your 3100 wheels have a locking ring? I thought that only GMC trucks had those?

There is no harm using 15" wheels, they were one of the wheel options for 3100s in 1951.

That's a nice truck, way better than any I've seen, considering it's straight from the barn.

I'm not sure how tall a tire you can get for the 15" rims, tall tires may not be as good for cornering but sure help your top end. One common complaint is that the truck won't go past 50 or 55 mph.

Probably should move this thread but since it has multiple topics within the thread, I'll leave it here for now and even add a comment or two of my own!!

I have a little different opinion on doing brakes first. I've always thought it would be a shame to spend money on the brake system only to later find out the engine, or some other major item is shot. Then the vehicle sits with all that money spent while digging out more just to get it running. Strictly MY opinion but I like to get them to GO and then WHOA.
However, JW51, if you have a firm plan to keep going after the brake job then by all means go ahead with the brakes.

Not sure if you have Huck or Bendix brakes but most Flaps can still get brake shoes and wheel cylinders. If not in stock they can get them overnight with free shipping. The brake lines are cheap and lengths can usually be matched up so there is a minimum, if any, flaring done. Just don't skimp on brakes!

Original optional 15" tires were a larger diameter than either of the original 16" tires (as shown in the link I posted above).

1951 31xx brakes were Bendix in front and rear (first Bendix year).

I like Alvin's logic on the brakes. However, before you go for a ride of more than one block, go over the brakes.

I'll post any new questions in the right thread.

Appreciate the insights from Achipmunk and tcelderman. My thoughts with the brakes first have to do with my house and garage. Concrete drive that is steep. Want to be able to stop before I put it in the garage and tear into anything else.

Dropped it off at the shop for the brake work today. We'll see what happens.

As for the question about the locking ring wheels --- don't know that they're original, but given the rest of the truck --- can't say that they're not. You guys would know best!

Welcome JW51. The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Cruze around the Stovebolt and you will know where to go with all your questions and you will get all the help you need.

Only 1 thing to say....you are one lucky son of a gun! Who finds one of these old trucks with original wood and paint? I'm fairly new here as well, and initially there is so much info, that it is a bit overwhelming..I'm sure I haven't even scratched the surface,but two sites I've found helpful are Deve's and Tim Clederman's. I know there are many out there I haven't found yet and I haven't nailed the link business yet so can't stick them in, but if you click on their usernames you can navigate there.
Good luck !

Seeing as you have a 51, be sure to check 'Dad's 50'. He has hundreds of excellent photos, sure they can be of help to you.

great truck! looking at pics i see the wood in the bed appears to have been stained or painted black. do you know if that is from the factory. curious since i too pulled a 52 from a barn in alabama back in 96 and my wood showed evidence of black but my reading says it was unpainted/stained from the factory. my truck, a 1 owner at the time is in the gallery as pete black's 52. i used fine rubbing compound applied by hand and numerous coats of wax to bring back the shine although the paint is thin in places. envious of your find

I know trucks from the 60s typically came with wood bed painted black.

I'm new to this era of truck, but assume it's the same thing. Someone more schooled could comment.

Concerning wheels: I bought a set of 16 inchers off ebay (I think they came off an Old Navy truck). Check the width, some are 4 inches and some are 4-1/2. I ended up with a set of 4 inchers although I really needed a set of 4-1/2.

Joe

BTW that is correct on the black painted wood bed (yellow pine).

Joe

Advance-Design & New Design GM trucks' bedwood was black. The blackening substance seems to a subject of debate/conjecture.

Jim Carter write-up on bed wood.

I think I will try to coat what remains of the black paint with some kind of oil finish.

Hate to make it black again because then you can't tell how old it is.

Nice find. Good luck

Thought I'd share a little bit of the truck's story, which is very intertwined with the previous owner's story.

The owner was a farm boy, WW2 vet, and eventually a heavy equip operator on pipeline jobs and such...member of the international union of operating engineers.

This truck, purchased by him in 1953 (according to the title) was his main means of transportation for those jobs...all over the US. This was not your typical putz-around-the-farm truck. I got this info from the PO's grandson. Verifying and illuminating these stories is a stack of papers I found clipped in the sunvisor.

Union agreeement booklet
Unsent subscription to Pipeline Construction magazine
Old timecards
Old receipts from Pennsylvaniua and Ohio Turnpikes

This truck wandered far from its home in Missouri! The tailgate has a heavy steel plate bolted to the inside. In that plate are three holes that likely secured a vise. Kind of stirs the imagination to think about the PO beating/welding some part to get the excavator back on the job....